Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued two top pesticide manufacturers for allegedly entering into exclusive contracts with distributors that kept prices paid by farmers artificially high. The consumer watchdog agency was motivated to bring the case in part because rising costs and supply chain disruptions from Russia’s invasion of […] Read more
Tag Archives herbicides
U.S. trade commission sues pesticide makers, alleging price scheme
‘Off the charts’ chemical shortages hit U.S. farms
Tight supplies force some farmers to change plans, find alternatives where they can
Reuters – U.S. farmers have cut back on using common weedkillers, hunted for substitutes to popular fungicides and changed planting plans over persistent shortages of agricultural chemicals that threaten to trim harvests. Spraying smaller volumes of herbicides and turning to less-effective fungicides increase the risk for weeds and diseases to dent crop production at a […] Read more
Higher than normal weed pressure in evidence
Tough weather conditions last fall and moisture this spring have prompted weed proliferation
Weather conditions last fall, coupled with a wet spring, have created higher than normal weed pressure across Ontario, according to agronomists. “There’s a lot of people that planned to spray fields that couldn’t get to it in the fall or planned to work fields that couldn’t get to it and the weeds grew, and they […] Read more
Living without Linuron in the tank
Growers will have to alter practices and mix and match other products to control weeds
When the 2020 re-evaluation of herbicide Linuron dropped the application rate for potatoes, growers thought they would be off the hook until 2023, when the new rate comes into effect. However, the registrant ran into regulatory issues after sourcing a technical active ingredient from a new provider. That pushed back production, causing supply issues. “It […] Read more
Bayer launches herbicide with two modes of action
Bayer CropScience’s new herbicide, Corvus, is now commercially available for growers in Eastern Canada for the 2022 season. Corvus provides season-long control of broadleaf and grass weeds, including glyphosate-resistant weeds in field and seed corn. It combines Group 2 and 27 modes of action, and can be applied pre-emerge, pre-plant incorporated, or early post emerge […] Read more
How to choose the right sprayer nozzle
Do some research, but also call a specialist for advice
Glacier FarmMedia – Under the heading “Perhaps Too Much of a Good Thing,” sprayer expert Tom Wolf says the biggest challenge when selecting the right nozzles for the field sprayer is having too much choice. “Finding the right nozzle is a bit of a chore simply because there is an overabundance of supply,” says Wolf. […] Read more
Weeds may compound effects of climate change impact
Study says corn yields are expected to be reduced as weeds compete for fewer water resources in the American Midwest
Glacier FarmMedia – A U.S. study has found that weeds will likely deepen the negative impact of climate change on corn yields, says a scientist. Such results likely extend to other crops, said Marty Williams, an ecologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “I think what this tells farmers is that going forward, more than […] Read more
Use caution in burndown herbicide applications
Pre-harvest burndown herbicide applications can lower seed losses, reduce staining and make combining a smoother process, according to a September 2020 article posted to Field Crop News. The article said crop quality often increases because harvest timing after the field has been sprayed is more predictable, so harvest schedules can be better managed. A pre-harvest […] Read more
Glyphosate limits may be increased
Pest management agency aims to harmonize Canadian levels with competitors
Glacier FarmMedia – In May, Health Canada proposed increasing the maximum residue levels of glyphosate for commodities such as oats, lentils, peas and beans. Canadians had 75 days to comment on the changes. The consultation period ended July 20. For certain crops, the proposed MRLs are higher than previous levels. Why it matters: Glyphosate is […] Read more
Grassy weeds in winter wheat at harvest
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for July 28
Three different types of grassy weeds have been found above the winter wheat canopy at harvest this year. To prevent them from becoming a problem, they need to be identified so that the appropriate management actions can be taken. Here is a breakdown of each grass species and control options. Chess grass (Bromus secalinus) Management: Chess grass […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
